Calvin Keys - Shawn-Neeq (Blue w/ Black Swirl Vinyl) Vinyl LP

The late, great Calvin Keys’ 1971 debut album for Black Jazz Records announced the arrival of a remarkable new voice in jazz guitar. After spending the ’60s backing top jazz organists such as Jimmy Smith, Jimmy McGriff, Jack McDuff, and Richard “Groove” Holmes, Keys was eager to record with a pianist for his first outing as a leader. He enlisted Larry Nash—member of the L.A. Express and collaborator with Eddie Harris, Bill Withers, and Etta James—alongside bassist Lawrence Evans, drummer Bob Braye, and flautist-songwriter Owen Marshall to complete the lineup on Shawn-Neeq. The album, which recalls early Pat Metheny (who cites Keys as an influence) and Grant Green, stands out for its heartfelt expression; as Keys notes in Pat Thomas’ liner notes, “My thing was, I write about some of the experiences that I’ve had in my life.” Keys became a fixture in the Bay Area jazz scene before his passing in April 2024, and Shawn-Neeq is the record that began his journey.